1963 NHL Amateur Draft Pick
Round Overall
1 1
Garry Monahan
Selected by Montreal from Toronto St. Michael's (OHA Jr. B)
Montreal Canadiens Toronto St. Michael's
Garry Monahan
 

6-foot-0, 185 pounds

Left-hand shot

Center

Pre-Draft Statistics

Statistics unavailable

Pre-Draft Notes

Had just completed 11th grade at St. Michael's when drafted. The draft received no advance media coverage, so when Montreal representatives called him to let him know he had been drafted, Monahan had no idea what they were talking about. ... Had no aspirations of playing pro hockey at the time he was drafted.
Canadian • Born Oct. 20, 1946 in Barrie, Ontario • Hometown: Barrie, Ontario

Career Vitals

First contract: 1966
Debut: October 21, 1967
(Montreal vs. Boston)
Final NHL game: April 7, 1979
(Toronto vs. Buffalo)
Retired: 1982
Stanley Cup: Never won
Numbers worn: 20 (Montreal); 11 (Detroit);
12 (Los Angeles); 14, 20 (Toronto); 24 (Vancouver)

Career NHL Statistics

Teams: Montreal, Detroit, LA, Toronto, Vancouver
Years: 1967-1979. Playoffs: 1970-1976

Regular Season
  GP G A TP PIM
12 years 748 116 169 285 484
 
Stanley Cup Playoffs
GP G A TP PIM
5 years 22 3 1 4 13
 
Complete statistics available at NHL.com 

Career Highlights

Played left wing for most of his NHL career. ... Won 1974-75 Vancouver Unsung Hero team award... Became first player in Vancouver Canucks history to score a game-winning goal in postseason when he scored in 2-1 playoff win at Montreal Forum on April 15, 1975. ... Became first player in Vancouver Canucks history to score a game-winning goal in either a regular-season or playoff game against Montreal when he scored in 2-1 playoff win at Montreal Forum on April 15, 1975.

Transaction History

June 6, 1969 -- Traded by Montreal with Doug Piper to Detroit in exchange for Pete Mahovlich and Bart Crashley. Feb. 20, 1970 -- Traded by Detroit with Brian Gibbons and Matt Ravlich to Los Angeles in exchange for Dale Rolfe, Gary Croteau, and Larry Johnston. Sept. 3, 1970 -- Traded by Los Angeles with Brian Murphy to Toronto in exchange Bob Pulford. Oct. 16, 1974 -- Traded by Toronto with John Grisdale to Vancouver for Dave Dunn. Sept. 13, 1978 -- Rights sold by Vancouver to Toronto

Monahan's Freak Injury

Monahan missed the start of the 1975-76 season with severely lacerated leg, an injury suffered 39 seconds into second period of Vancouver's Sept. 23, 1975, preseason game vs. Montreal. Monahan lost his balance in his own zone and went sliding into the Canucks net. As he hit the net, his leg was severely sliced by the pointed center of the goal cage's bottom, which was unfortunately raised three inches off the ice as Monahan dislodged the net from its moorings. The same freak injury would happen years later to Mark Howe of Hartford and prompt a change in how NHL nets were built. In Monahan's case, a six-inch gash was made in his upper left thigh, cutting down into his hamstring muscle. Canucks trainer Pat Dunn told The Hockey News it was the worst cut he had ever seen in hockey, and it required immediate surgery. The injury partly happened because Monahan was wearing an old pair of skates for the game. His newer skates had been punctured in the toe during a previous game, and the only reason he had new skates was because he had been having problems balancing on the older ones. Monahan, who had never before missed an NHL game due to injury, did not make his 1975-76 regular-season debut until Vancouver's Oct. 28, 1975, game vs. Atlanta.

Life Outside the NHL

Full Name: Garry Michael Monahan

Other Post-Draft Teams: Toronto St. Michael's (Jr. B); Peterborough (OHA); Houston (CHL); Cleveland (AHL); Tulsa (CHL); Seibu-Tetsudo (Japan).

Broadcasting Career: Named Vancouver Canucks radio color commentator prior to 1982-83 season and remained in that position through 1986-87 season.

Education: Attended Trent University and University of Toronto during his playing days, earning a bachelor's degree in history and physical education from the University of Toronto. ... Attended Sofia University in Tokyo, Japan, to earn teaching degree during playing days.

Career Beyond Hockey: Worked as a stockbroker in Vancouver in late 1980s before becoming Realtor in 1990. ... One of West Vancouver's top Realtors with Royal LePage Garry Monahan Realty Ltd.

Miscellaneous:

Selected by Chicago Cougars in 1972 WHA Draft -- the first-ever WHA Draft -- in February 1972. Played left wing on a line with Dave Keon and Billy MacMillan for Toronto in 1970-71. Worked as a penalty-killer on pairing with Gerry O'Flaherty for Vancouver in 1975-76 season. Played for Vancouver Canucks Alumni team after his retirement.
SNAPSHOT '63
Total Selected: 21
Forwards: 13
Defense: 6
Goaltenders: 0
Position n/a: 2
Major Junior: 4
College Players: 0
Canadian: 21
American: 0
European: 0
Reached NHL: 5
Won Stanley Cup: 1
Hall of Fame: 0
All-Star Game: 2
Year-end All-Star: 0
Olympians: 0
Picks Traded: 0


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